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As our students head toward finals and look forward to the holiday break, I enjoy the chance to celebrate with them before they go. Throughout the week, I have had the pleasure of inviting student groups to my home for an early Christmas dinner. All of them, from our student ambassadors to the SHUpermen and Blended Hearts a capella groups, have enriched our holiday with their joy and enthusiasm.
It was wonderful to hear that students completing their fall semester internships have been helpful—and even vital—to their employers in the local community. At the beginning of the week, the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce spoke to the press and reported their student interns from SHU were instrumental as they implemented new marketing programs. Congratulations to our interns for bringing SHU’s Pioneer spirit to the workplace in such a spectacular way.
Our students are also representing SHU well abroad. This week in Dingle, Ireland, our freshman study abroad students met with Kevin O’Malley, the U.S. ambassador to Ireland, at a conference on culture, business and creativity. Kevin was impressed that the students had chosen to spend their first-ever semester of college overseas. I’m impressed, too, though not surprised. They exemplify the Pioneer spirit.
On a related topic, congratulations are to John Roney, SHU’s professor of Western European history. John has been elected treasurer of the New England Chapter of the American Conference of Irish Studies. The Conference is a scholarly organization with members in the U.S., Canada and Ireland, among others, and its annual meetings are attended by hundreds of peers from the academic community.
Tuesday, the SHU community learned about immigration advocacy from a veteran in the field. Enrique Morones is the founder of the nonprofit Border Angels. He shared stories of the organization’s work with migrant individuals and families who have crossed from Mexico to the U.S. He passionately discussed the need to defend those under attack from language and policies that target society’s most vulnerable people—a theme that is central to SHU’s mission.
This summer, the University will further that mission with the help of a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment. I am pleased to announce that SHU has received a Lilly Grant of more than $500,000 to develop and launch a summer learning program teaching our community’s youth about the Catholic intellectual tradition. The project will be a collaboration between the Diocese of Bridgeport and many of the University’s offices. I sincerely appreciate the efforts of all our faculty and staff—in particular, Michelle Loris—for making this program possible.
These types of education and enrichment programs make all kinds of achievement possible for students who take part, and I’m delighted whenever I hear success stories from alumni. Charlene Brown McKenzie, who graduated from our Upward Bound program in 1989, recently contacted SHU to let us know that now, many years after her time with the program, she has received a Staff Excellence Award from the president of Georgetown University, where she works. Charlene wrote to Carylanne Rice-Ehalt, director of SHU’s Upward Bound program to say she was dedicating the award to her. Charlene, all of us in Pioneer Nation are so proud of your accomplishments. I wish you the best in all your endeavors.
Earlier today, students in our School of Communication and Media Arts presented their work at their annual year-end event called The Max. Students showed off their best photography, videos, critical writing pieces and more in our Martire Business and Communications Center. The projects are more detailed and more outstanding every year. Congratulations to our talented students!
This evening, our faculty will show off their amazing talents, too. Tonight in the Schine Auditorium, the SHU Faculty Brass Quintet performs a program of both new and classical music, with ticket proceeds from the event benefitting the BLUME Haiti initiative. In the past, SHU professors have regularly traveled to Haiti to give children music education with BLUME.
There’s plenty more to do this weekend as well. Saturday, December 12, we have the holiday choral concert in the Edgerton at 7 p.m., and I can’t wait to see what the students have in store. Then on Sunday at 4 p.m., the Irish music group Cherish the Ladies takes the stage to serenade us with traditional and contemporary songs that have made them famous around the world.
Our athletes will also be in the spotlight this weekend. Saturday, our men’s and women’s track and field teams compete at Northeastern University’s Jay Carisella Invitational, and we wish them great success. Our men’s and women’s basketball teams will also be competing Saturday, with the women’s team playing Binghamton at 1 p.m., and the men’s team facing off against Lafayette at 3:30 p.m. Go Pioneers!
Study hard, but enjoy the weekend!
It’s great to be back for the final push of the semester after a relaxing Thanksgiving break. This is a special time of year on campus with a variety of events to celebrate the Christmas season. I’m hoping to see you all at the concerts, services and parties in the coming weeks. One of my favorite events is the traditional Late Night Breakfast when faculty and staff commemorate the end of classes by serving the students a hearty meal to get them through finals. This year’s breakfast is Monday, December 14. I’m hoping faculty and staff will join me and that students will turn out, as they always do, for this wonderful opportunity to be waited on by members of the SHU community!
Our students and faculty continue to excel and receive recognition for it. This week, our College of Nursing was ranked one of the top 30 online master’s in nursing programs by Best Medical Degrees.com. We are always grateful for outside endorsements of our outstanding programs. Congratulations to all involved.
Professor Sid Gottlieb has also assisted in getting SHU some additional notoriety. In addition to teaching in our School of Communication and Media Arts, Sid is one of the foremost experts on the life and work of filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock. This week he shared his insights on a newly released Hitchcock documentary for an article in the New York Times.
Meanwhile, our students are exhibiting their interest in the sciences. Wednesday, Valerie Wherley’s exercise science class delivered a presentation to raise awareness of childhood obesity, discussing its prevalence, influences and how to manage it. Students and community health professionals attended the event. I love seeing our students so passionate about the things they are learning and so excited to share.
Our chemistry students also deserve congratulations. This semester, the American Chemical Society awarded SHU’s student ACS chapter with an honorable mention for its activities in 2015. Professor Linda Farber also received a special commendation for her work as the group’s faculty adviser. Their achievement will be published in prominent student and industry chemistry publications and celebrated at the ACS’ national meeting in March.
Wednesday, we also heard that global studies professor Lesley DeNardis was accepted to the highly selective and prestigious HERS program at Bryn Mawr College. HERS is a two-week workshop that trains women in academia to become institutional leaders. She should have some great information to share when she comes back.
Thursday evening, the SHU community began spreading holiday cheer with a tree lighting on the campus quad. The colorful lights and songs from the choir were a great way to kick off the Christmas season.
As I mentioned earlier, the tree lighting was just the beginning of our holiday celebrations. This weekend, we continue with the SHU band’s Winter Voyage performance on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Edgerton. The concert is a preview of the repertoire they will perform during a trip to Ireland in January. I encourage all of you to go give them a spirited sendoff. On Sunday, our student choirs tell the Christmas story through song at our annual Lessons and Carols event at 4 p.m. in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit.
There’s also opportunities this weekend to cheer on our student-athletes. On Saturday, it’s SHU wrestling vs. Davidson at 6 p.m. On Sunday, women’s ice hockey plays Franklin Pierce at 4 p.m. Go Pioneers!
Stay merry and enjoy the great weather predicted for the weekend!